Jeremy Whannell

The building sector in Italy, responsible for 42% of energy consumption and 18% of greenhouse gas emissions, represents a fundamental lever

Intesa Sanpaolo provided €10M to Unicalce for sustainability-focused investments in decarbonization and digitization.

Italy plans to issue up to €5 billion in Green BTPs through a banking syndicate led by major banks. Funds will target sustainable initiatives, focusing on energy-efficient buildings and sustainable transport. Most investments will occur in 2024-2025. Demand for Italy’s green bonds surged in 2023, with record-breaking €84.4 billion orders for October 2037 bonds. 0 SHARES

Accredia’s Circular 40/2024 refines environmental certification by distinguishing certificates from opinions for claims like GHG inventories. Unlike certified systems, opinions reflect a specific moment, per ISO 14065:2020. This shift enhances transparency, credibility, and market access, requiring dynamic assessments, stronger corporate responsibility, and improved environmental management systems with skilled personnel for accurate reporting.

2024 was the hottest year on record, surpassing 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, breaching the Paris Agreement’s critical limit. Driven by greenhouse gas emissions, this milestone intensifies extreme weather, rising seas, and biodiversity loss. Impacts threaten global food, water, and human health. Urgent, coordinated action with renewable energy investment is vital to mitigate climate catastrophe.

The Net-Zero Asset Managers (NZAM) alliance, managing $57.5 trillion, suspended activities after BlackRock’s withdrawal amid Republican pressure against ESG practices. Climate-focused investments faced backlash, particularly from oil-dependent states like Texas. NZAM’s review reflects rising U.S. regulatory tensions. Trump’s anti-climate stance scored a key victory, raising concerns about potential threats to the Paris Agreement. 0 SHARES

Natural gas prices remain high due to reduced supply and geopolitical tensions. CO2 emission allowances offer a cost-effective, clean alternative investment, benefiting from rising carbon prices that favor gas over coal. Carbon markets, with strong returns and low correlation to traditional assets, provide diversification and exposure to the global energy transition and growing Asian demand.

Italy faces challenges in meeting its 2030 climate and energy goals, particularly in emissions reduction and energy efficiency. PNIEC Monitor’s latest analysis highlights lowered renewable targets, misaligned efficiency projections, and emission gaps. A new SMART monitoring system will track progress, aiming to improve policy corrections. Collaboration and streamlined processes are vital for successful decarbonization. 0 SHARES

The European Commission’s CO₂ rules impose fines for exceeding emission limits, pushing carmakers to boost EV sales, pay fines, or buy carbon credits. Many, like VW and Renault, consider pooling with Chinese competitors, raising political concerns amid EU tariff hikes. Reduced EV incentives in Germany and France complicate compliance, pressuring Brussels for more flexible policies.

However, in the past year, green energy funds assets have fallen to $533 billion, with global sales falling from $151 billion in 2021 to just $29 billion.